The 5 Best Home Care Agencies for Seniors in Scottdale, PA for 2024

Caring.com offers a free service to help families find senior care and authentic reviews to help you in your decision. On average in Scottdale, PA, residents and their loved ones rate In Home Care agencies 3.0 out of 5 stars across the 6 options below.

The Genworth Cost of Care Survey reports that home care agencies in Scottdale charge $5,339 per month for nonmedical care, which is several hundred dollars more than state and national norms of $4,957. Local care costs are also higher than those in other communities in the region, including Gettysburg, where agencies charge $5,291 for services. In Erie, monthly rates are hundreds of dollars lower than in Scottdale at $4,767, and in Altoona, agencies charge $4,290 per month for care. In Johnstown, monthly fees are well below Scottdale’s norm at $3,813.

Home care agencies in Scottdale charge $5,339 per month for nonmedical services. This is considerably higher than the cost of residential care, with seniors in assisted living facilities paying $3,250 for a similar scope of services. Adult day health care may be an affordable alternative to private home care at $1,495 per month, but seniors who live in nursing homes pay much higher monthly rates of $9,733. Home health care, which includes skilled nursing along with daily living assistance, costs the same as home care.

Given the high cost of in-home care, many people use one or more forms of financial assistance to cover the expenses. Below, we explain some of the most common sources of financial help to pay for in-home care. If none of these options are available to you, you can reach out to your Area Agency on Aging or Aging and Disability Resource Center to learn about local resources.

• Long-Term Care Insurance: Long-Term Care Insurance covers expenses related to senior care, including in-home care. Depending on the policy type, beneficiaries may receive a cash payment to use towards long-term care or reimbursement for qualifying long-term care expenses. Note that there are limitations, typically a maximum benefit of $150 per day, and exact coverage terms vary depending on the exact policy, so always check the details.
• Medicare: Medicare does not cover in-home care because it is classified as custodial or nonmedical care. However, some Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans, which offer expanded benefits, may cover in-home custodial care.
• Medicaid: Medicaid coverage of in-home care varies between different states because it is not a federally mandated benefit. Currently, all states cover some in-home care services either through their standard Medicaid or a waiver program. The specific coverage rules are set individually by each state.
• Veterans' Benefits: The Aid and Attendance benefit is a monthly cash payment that beneficiaries can use to pay for senior care, including in-home care services. To qualify for A&A, Veterans must already receive the VA pension and meet several additional requirements, including needing assistance with activities of daily living. Contact the Department of Veterans Affairs to learn more.
• Reverse Mortgages: Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs) are federally insured loans that are available to homeowners age 62 and over. Reverse mortgages allow you to access a tax-free portion of your home's equity in cash. Many seniors use reverse mortgages to finance their care expenses, including in-home care. Note that although there are no monthly payments due on reverse mortgage loans, borrowers have to repay the loan once the last surviving homeowner passes away, moves, or sells the home.